Growing Sweet Potatoes in Tubs?

[wifezilla]

Anyone done this?

I have found a few websites with some basic info but wanted to see if anyone had tried it themselves.

If I have it right, you do not need to keep adding dirt like you do with white potatoes. Correct?

How deep of a tub should you use? Would a plastic garbage can be better?

How deep do those roots go and the sweet potatoes grow?

 

[jojo54]

You should not have to add soil because they grow down. I did not plant in tubs but don't see why you can't. You would only be able to plant one plant per tub because the tubers great huge. I would think the garbage pail would work better fot the depth. I planted plants started from slips in the garden. (see link below for info on that) http://www.theeasygarden.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=27145&p=3
Digging out the potatoes we found they grew quite deep even though we planted them in a mound. Some grew 1 1/2 feet or deeper. Growing the vines in a tub would stop them from rooting themselves.


Here is another link on sweet potato info.

http://www.theeasygarden.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=27287

 

[curly_kate]

We grew them in tubs this year, although we cut the bottoms off so that we wouldn't have drainage problems. Our biggest ones were about a foot long.

 

[ducks4you]

I've heard about growing regular potatoes in tubs, so I don't see why it cannot be done with sweet potatoes! Are you needing extra garden space, or do you think that they'll grow more efficiently this way? I'd like to know if you try it, and how well it works--with PICS, of course!

 

[wifezilla]

The soil in Colorado can be problematic sometimes....and the bugs here are AWFUL! I would hate to go through all the trouble to start slips and then have critters destroy my plants.

This would also give me a great way to use the space by the fence next to the drive way. The driveway is pea gravel and has a southern exposure. I am thinking I could line tubs along the fence after I drill some drain holes in them. It is in easy reach of the hose.

I guess it kind of depends on how redneck it ends up looking

I could put some kind of decorative fencing in front of or around the tubs. I have enough lumber scraps.

Hummmmm

inkinkink

 

[ducks4you]

Try planting them in plastic that fits inside some planters like these, and your neighbors will never know:

http://www.laohu.co.uk/jcw/planter2.jpg
http://www.plantersparadise.co.uk/members/1346581/uploaded/Versaille_Trough.jpg
http://www.made-in-china.com/image/...lanter-Box-Wooden-Flower-Boxes-MY11-1095-.jpg

 

[wifezilla]

That's what I was thinking. I also have some old wood chairs that I can hide tubs in. Just need to get out the tape measure.

Storage tubs go on sale this time of year too....

 

[bid]

The only bug I had a problem with last summer on my sweet potatos was the golden tortoise beetle (had never heard of it before). Very striking little bug! You can't miss him/her. I just hand picked and that was somewhat sporadic. Last season was the first for me at trying to grow sweet potatos, but it was very easy. A bit of out of sight out of mind 'though. I saved some fingerlings that I want to plant this year and pay them a bit more attention. As jojo54 said, they grow quite deep. I had mine in about 18" of soil and compost lasagna bed...I think that could easily be doubled and maybe produce a bit better.

 

[journey11]

I will have to try that too. I have a pamphlet on how to grow regular potatoes in a bottomless garbage can, so I have a good idea how it would work.

DH loves sweet potatoes. That is one thing I have never tried to grow in the garden. I have tried to sprout some, but have failed miserably. Saw mention in another thread that it has to be very warm. Will have to look for some more tips on that...

 

[jojo54]

I will have to try that too. I have a pamphlet on how to grow regular potatoes in a bottomless garbage can, so I have a good idea how it would work.

DH loves sweet potatoes. That is one thing I have never tried to grow in the garden. I have tried to sprout some, but have failed miserably. Saw mention in another thread that it has to be very warm. Will have to look for some more tips on that...

How did you try to sprout them? I just stuck toothpicks in the potato and hung it in a glass of water. It took awhile for the first sprout but after that I got 17 plants from the one sweet potato.